Over-the-counter medicines

Alternative Names

Medicines to have at home

Information

You can buy many medicines for minor problems at the store without a prescription (over-the-counter).

Important tips for using over-the-counter medicines:

Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their provider before taking any new medicine.

Medicines affect children and older adults differently. People in these age groups should take special care when taking over-the-counter medicines.

Check with your provider before taking an over-the-counter medicine if:

ACHES, PAINS, AND HEADACHES

Over-the-counter pain medicines can help with headache, arthritis pain, sprains, and other minor joint and muscle problems.

Both of these medicines can have serious side effects if you take them in high doses or for a long time. Tell your provider if you are taking these medicines many times a week. You may need to be checked for side effects.

FEVER

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help reduce fever in children and adults.

Aspirin works very well for treating fever in adults. DO NOT give aspirin to a child unless your child's provider tells you it is OK.

COLD, SORE THROAT, COUGH

Cold medicines can treat symptoms to make you feel better, but they do not shorten a cold. Taking zinc supplements within 24 hours of the start of a cold may reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold.

NOTE: Talk to your provider before giving your child any type of over-the-counter cold medicine, even if it is labeled for children.

Cough medicines:

Decongestants:

Sore throat medicines:

ALLERGIES

Antihistamine pills and liquids work well for treating allergy symptoms.

Talk to your provider before giving medicines that cause sleepiness to a child, because they can affect learning. They can also affect alertness in adults.

You can also try:

STOMACH UPSET

Medicines for diarrhea:

Medicines for nausea and vomiting:

SKIN RASHES AND ITCHING

References

Dinulos JGH. Atopic dermatitis. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 5.

Garza I, Robertson CE, Smith JH, Whealy MA. Headache and other craniofacial pain. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 102.

Halmo LS, Wang GS. Pediatric drug therapy. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 171.

Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 126.


Review Date: 7/8/2023
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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